A SPURNED lover turned up at his former partner's home and stabbed her repeatedly, a court heard.

David Hughes was jailed at Bolton Crown Court for nine years and four months for the vicious attack on former partner Claire Heaton.

The court heard how the 58-year-old stabbed Ms Heaton numerous times in her back, shoulders and arms with a craft knife in her Sharples home.

Ms Heaton and Hughes had previously been in a relationship for three years having met on a website.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Ms Heaton said: "It was like a total obsession."

She added: "I thought I was going to die. My mum, sister and brother all thought I was going to die. No one should have to go through that because of the acts of another."

David Clarke, prosecuting said: "The defendant had a nasty temper and was abusive during the relationship but only verbally."

The couple split in March last year but Hughes pursued Ms Heaton relentlessly and persuaded her to get back with him in October.

Mr Clarke continued: "Things once again after a good start degenerated and became hostile."

After a final argument on Christmas Eve, Ms Heaton was told to move out of the home she was sharing with Hughes in Worsley and she finally left in January. Following this he started persistently texting the victim, sending up to 40 messages a day.

Mr Clarke said: "The texts were not nasty, but they were persistent and at one point he turned up at her mother's house banging on the door, which terrified her. He would also be waiting for her at the bus stop when she got home from work."

Hughes continued his harassment and after Ms Heaton blocked his number he took to e mailing her.

The court heard that Hughes had discovered that his former partner was seeing someone else and following this his emails to the victim were described as "erratic."

On Saturday April 9 the victim told Hughes that his behaviour was unacceptable and his friend also advised him to leave her alone.

Hughes, of Foxfold Close, Worsley, bought a craft knife and a kitchen knife later that day and went round to Ms Heaton's Wrenbury Drive home.

Mr Clarke said: "She answered the door to him and the next thing she was on the floor in the lounge and he was stabbing her all over. She was terrified and saw a knife covered in blood and a massive hole in her arm. The word she used to describe it was terror."

The court heard that Hughes then turned the knife on himself and started slashing his own throat.

She ran outside to a neighbour who Hughes then threatened with the knife before the police were called.

Mr Clarke said: "One neighbour said she saw the defendant walking towards Claire Heaton like a zombie before stabbing her a further eight times with force in her back. The neighbour said they had never seen a cut like it.

"The defendant could be heard saying 'I love her' before he lay down on the floor until the police arrived."

Mr Clarke added: "It has had a lifelong effect on her and the scars will be a permanent reminder each day of what has happened to her."

At an earlier hearing, Hughes pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possession of a blade and threatening a neighbour with a bladed article.

The court heard how Hughes has a 17-year-old son and was previously regarded as a hard working family man.

Colin Buckle, defending, said: "Emotionally he had crashed through the floor on that day.

"He allowed himself to be overtaken by high emotion. He was struggling to come to terms with the loss of his relationship.

"He told the police that he wanted to die and he turned the knife on himself giving himself significant injuries."

Sentencing Hughes, who was also given a restraining order, Judge Timothy Stead said: "It was a ferocious and terrifying attack upon her.

"The effect upon your victim has been immense and it is easy to understand why.

"You attacked her in her own home, a place where she was vulnerable and should have felt safe.

"It is anticipated by her that the effects on her will be lifelong and she feels she will never be the same again.

"You completely lost control of yourself and from the history of your relationship there was a gradual building towards this peak of extreme hostility and violence."

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden said: “We are very pleased with the sentence on behalf of the victim. It was a frenzied and brutal attack on a defenceless woman in her own home. The pre-meditated nature of the attack was particularly disturbing.

“Somehow after the first attack in her home she managed to get out and her neighbour has saved her life by getting her away. If the neighbour had not been there it would have been a very different outcome.

“The psychological trauma will be with the victim for a long time.”

Diane Hawkins, chairman of the Bolton-based Fortalice charity, which helps victims of domestic abuse, said: "It is sad to hear, once again, that yet another victim of domestic abuse will be scarred for life. At Fortalice we have nearly 40 years of experience in Bolton helping such women. It is important to seek help and advice early on.

"We would urge anyone experiencing threats or harassment to take action before any physical violence starts."

Fortalice can be called on 01204 365677 or 01204 701846.